wonder.

Riordan chuckled slowly, nodding along to show that she was right. His eyes kept glancing to the side, trying to see if any restaurants would pop out to him so that they could eat. Nothing yet. His lips twisted a bit when he heard about Otto. “I don’t think... he came all the way back after what happened with Ursula. I talked to Pompeii a couple times and she’s...” Riordan trailed off before giving a soft sigh. “I just can’t seem to trust anything he says. But, I’m sure you can take care of yourself and your judgement is a lot more structurally sound than most. So I’m not going to try and stop you from doing what you’re doing, you know?” He snapped out of his unease and started laughing, a bright smile donning his lips. “Oh, trust me, you’ll get the best treatment there. It’ll be paradise all in an effort to forget Mr. White. But only if you fall for him— it’s the only way you’ll get special treatment.” He crinkled his nose as he glanced to look at her, signalling that he was just joking around.

Charity had a habit of saying that, didn’t she? She thanked him a lot. Part of Riordan wanted to tell her that it was just him being a decent friend, someone that she could trust. Instead, he softly told her, “You’re welcome, Char.” He was a bit surprised that she was the one to suggest skipping classes. Regardless of that, though, he was still grateful for it. “Considering we’re running away in my car, I guess I kinda can’t, now, can I?” he teased softly before nodding. “No, that’s fair. No drinking or smoking.” He took a deep breath at the prospect. He really wasn't sure how well that was going to go but it was always something worth trying. “To be honest, I was just heading to the city’s business district in hopes we see something that we want to try. I didn’t even have a solid lunch idea thought out.” He gave a warm laugh. However, it quickly died out as he listened to Charity's next words. “What stopped him before? ... I don’t mean to assume but he has some ulterior motive, doesn’t he? Does he got a bet placed?” He placed both his hands on the steering wheel and crinkled his nose a bit. “Just remember— Any person who believes that he’s better than other people just because of the privilege he was born into is not a person worth falling for. Otto believes he’s better than... well, most everyone. Flirting’s fun and all, I’d do it too if I was in the same position as you. As soon as you think you’re falling for him, though, take a vacation far, far away from him.”

Riordan gave a dry laugh once he heard her words. Not to mock her, never to mock her. Simply for the reality of her words when it came to the both of them, and all the other royals who had to do as their family wishes. “Something we both know very well,” he muttered in response. His smile turned more genuine as she began to lighten up. He took it as his chance to start the car. As he began driving out of the parking lot (not even with a destination in mind yet, just to get away, even if for only the lunch hour), he nodded along. “You gotta do what you gotta do. It’s never abandoning what happened, it’s making sure you’re still taking care of yourself.” He chuckled at her punch line, shaking his head. “Remind me to tell Mason that one.” Another drop on the roller coaster? Riordan kept his eyes on the road, his smile turning a bit ghost like. It was as if he was in some far off land. Finally, he sighed. “Well, you told me a secret, guess I ought to tell you one of mine.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel so that one hand rested at the top. He glanced at Charity, swallowed, then returned his gaze back ahead. “I don’t remember the last day I was completely sober— Don’t get me wrong, I’m sober now. But I don’t plan on staying like that all day. I’ve drunk... every day since Dad passed,” he murmured. Kirsa and Freddie knew that Rio was a messy drinker. They barely bat an eyelash when they smell rum in his coffee or when the prince takes out a flask and starts drinking straight. “And if it’s not the drinking, it’s the cigarettes, and if it’s not the cigarettes, it’s the fact that I haven’t danced— God, I miss dancing. It just feels wrong now, since...” He swallowed a lump in his throat. Thankfully, his voice didn’t crack. “He always encouraged me to dance, you know. My vices didn’t matter as much since I was so good at it; it kind of made the bad parts of me disappear. Now, I’m just made up of bad habits.”

Riordan chuckled and nodded along. “Oh yeah, the Land of Sweets is something you’d definitely remember. That doesn’t surprise me one bit.” As he got settled into the car, he listened. At that point, it was all he could really do. His eyes glanced away from her to try and think about what HE would do in the same situation. He knew what he would do but admitting it was a whole other ballgame. He’d drink his face off and pretend it didn’t bother him— what else could you do when it was all secret? He sighed and licked his lips in thought, unsure of what to tell Charity. Finally, he turned to her. “Hey... hey,” he murmured when he noticed her expression. “It’s okay, this stuff’s heavy, you don’t have to stop yourself from crying. You can’t stop how you feel. If it makes you feel bad, then it makes you feel bad. There’s no use in trying to hide it.” He offered a small smile, just barely tugging the corner of his lips. “I can’t speak for Robbie or for anything he’s doing. But, don’t think... that you deserve this. You don’t, Charity, you don’t deserve it one bit. Your track record doesn’t mean anything on how you ought to be treated. If boys mistreat you, then that’s on THEM. You’re an amazing princess and an even better woman. Robbie’s lucky that you still care about him. You got that?” He didn’t start driving, not yet. He felt it was harder to console people when he was driving. He let the car run until he was sure she was ready to start moving. “If it ends or if it doesn’t, that decision is on you. If you don’t want it to end, then don’t let it. If you think everything ran its course and you’re done worrying about whether or not he cares about you, then do it. Let it end. Don’t let other people make that decision for you, though. If anyone says anything— don’t listen to them. In the end, it’s always you and your feelings.”

“I mean... I was just trying to justify the fact that I have rum in my coffee because I always turn up,” Riordan started, taking a sip out of his coffee mug, before shrugging and smiling. “But I like that better. It makes it sound like we were made to be friends.”

Riordan looked towards Charity and laughed with her. “No, it’s fine. Out of context, a lot of the Land of Sweets is a bit... silly,” he told her with a cheeky smile. He listened to what she had to say. It took him a moment to absorb the information, leading her to his car, a maroon compact car. “That doesn’t make the ordeal... completely awful. Still disappointing, but not as much, you know?” he said as he unlocked the doors with his fob key. Riordan’s smile softened. “She didn’t either. Best believe her friends did, though. I’m pretty sure a good majority of them condemned me. That’s what friends do, though, so I’m not all too worried.” As he followed her gaze around the parking lot, he didn’t see all too much. A few parked cars of the students who stayed during the lunch hour. Most of it was empty, most of them already gone to grab something to eat. He looked back at Charity. His expression was a bit hard to read before he motioned to the car. “Of course I can— But you know some students can talk to animals. Hop in and you can tell me then.” He opened the door to his driver’s seat. Not that he didn’t trust people, but with the way Charity paused, he figured it was best to cover all his bases and make sure it stays a secret. You could never be too careful. With that, he climbed into his car, starting the engine as he did so.

Riordan followed Charity out the door, humming in thought. “I might. I’m just a little skeptical because Mum kept saying that it was a miracle that they’re letting me go back to school. Of course, half the council is stale gingerbread men and the other half have pink beards from eating so much icing.” He made himself smile with that comment, simply for the fact that none could say that to their faces (but everyone thought it). As he listened, his brow furrowed. Unfortunately, he knew how Otto White could get; how perfectly self-serving the prince was. “I’m sorry that’s had to happen to you. I can’t say that I’m surprised but I’m still a bit disappointed. How have you been holding up? I wouldn’t speak to either my affianced or my friend if the same happened to me so if you can, you’re definitely better than me.” He flashed a half-smile towards her before he started his way to the parking lot, fishing his keys out of his pockets. “Evie, my... ex-girlfriend, I guess... well, I broke up with her when I heard Dad passed. I was scared and in shock... I didn’t want to condemn her to be a young ruler with me, especially since that’s what the people would’ve expected. I came back to Auradon and I thought we had made up— We went on dates, we were holding hands... and then she’s gone. No one’s heard from her, not even her sister. I’m worried. And I know I shouldn’t be because I did the exact same thing to her... but I’m hurt that she’s gone.”

Riordan didn’t hesitate to nod along. “You got yourself a deal,” he told her. With that, he started walking down the hall, heading towards the building entrance. “Well, if you REALLY want me to start,” he hummed before letting out a soft sigh. He gave an uneasy smile. “So, as we all know, I’m the heir to the throne. When Dad passed...” He rolled his shoulders, shifting uncomfortably. “Everyone wanted me to be king right then and there. Have the coronation ceremony days after the funeral. I couldn’t do that— Not when... I’m not ready. Mum managed to convince our council to let me continue school and she’ll stay queen with the help of our Sugar Plum fairy. As soon as I graduate and step into my homeland, though, I’ll be King. So that’s been... fun.” He dryly laughed. “I feel like I’ve been condemned before I’ve even got to live. Not to even mention the mess I got myself in with Evie... but that’s one issue for me.” He nudged her shoulder with his arm as they walked, before approaching the building entrance, his hand already on the door handle. “One issue for you?”

His smile grew into a grin. A light chuckle even escaped past his lips as she started to follow him. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he told her, giving a noncommittal shrug to show that there were no promises. Riordan backed into the door, pushing it to keep it open. “I mean, how else do people catch up? You share your problems, I share mine, we grab a bite to eat— I attempt to bring you back in time for your next class OR we could live adventurously and skip the rest of classes for today. That’s always an option.”

Riordan raised an eyebrow as Charity spoke. He gave her a smile before deciding to lean against the cafeteria counter, taking his hands out of his pockets to cross his arms against his chest. He pretended to be in thought. “Well, you could start by not trying to be so vague,” he suggested, his smile turning playful. “I get that you’re trying to save me a story—” He looked back to the worker and the student, still in the midst of whatever they were so passionately talking about. “You know what? Let’s get out of here. No one’s going to be moving for a while. Besides, it’ll give you less of a reason to be vague and actually tell me what’s on your mind.” He got up from where he was leaning, still facing Charity, and started stepping back towards the exit. “Come on.”

“Always cheesy when you least expect it, hey, Freddie?”

Riordan tilted his head curiously, digging his hands into his jean pockets. “Odd?” he repeated before flashing a soft smile. “Hey now, I happen to like roller coasters. Wouldn’t mind if you took me on one. Besides, it’s not like we haven’t got time,” he said. He then motioned to the cafeteria checkout, where a student started a heated discussion with the worker. At the question, his smile moved from soft to somber. Still, he remained in cheerful spirits. “I’ve been surviving. Definitely surviving long enough to feel normal again.”

Riordan often ate out or went back to his dorm to eat in between classes. A habit of his, especially since the school cafeteria back home was run by gingerbread men that whacked you with a candy cane if you acted out of line. When he heard his name being called, his smile brightened. “Charity! It’s definitely been a while, hasn’t it? How’ve you been? It feels like it’s been ages,” he called out. Without hesitating, he stood, waiting in line beside her. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted something to eat yet.

“So, the best of both worlds for you then? How quaint,” Riordan mused. “This is the point where I’d want to say something witty in French but alas, jene parle pas français.” He gave a small chuckle. “So, what’s Freddie then? He’d have to be rated R whatever he may be, simply for his oh-so-charming cursing.”

Riordan made a small noise. It was somewhere in between a small laugh and a scoff. Not that he thought it was a ludicrous point. Just in the fact that it was so difficult to do such a seemingly simple thing. “I guess I won’t be cursed to become a nutcracker, so there’s that. One step closer to being my own king,” he said in an attempt to keep himself from being too sad. 

“Even if I am,” Riordan hiccuped, though he didn’t stagger or anything of the sort. He took a moment to recompose himself (though, it was quite obvious that he was VERY drunk). “It doesn’t make anything I said less true— it’s very true. I-I can find a sober person to tell you.”